Int'l Development Workers Trained on Discipleship, Governance

"I appreciate learning what a truly Christ-centered organization looks like from the top to the bottom," said a satisfied participant in the recently-concluded third Transformative Economic Empowerment (TEE) training conference, an annual gathering organized by the Center for Community Transformation (CCT) and the CCT Ka-Partner Network (CCT KN). "I learned that discipleship is about relationship and needs to be a core part of organizational culture," said another.

This year's TEE had the theme "Thy Kingdom Come" from the Lord's Prayer and brought together microfinance workers and volunteers from 12 countries. In her welcome message, Ruth Callanta, president and founder of CCT said, "I praise the Lord for the opportunity to share stories, experiences, and lessons CCT and its people have learned over the years of ministering among the poorest of the poor. It is my prayer that our week together will truly equip and encourage everyone so that when we go from here we will shine as exceedingly bright lights in the dark corners of the world where God appointed us to minister." Attendees were from Burundi, Cameroon, India, Korea, Malawi, Singapore, South Africa, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, and Zambia.

Participants spent about half of the week-long conference on exposure trips and half attending courses on either discipleship or organizational governance.  The exposure trips, meant to give attendees an understanding and appreciation of the scope of CCT work and what God has done in establishing these ministries, involved visits to a microfinance branch, three community centers, a residential school, a feeding activity, a savings group, and a factory.

The plenary sessions, break out group sessions and panel discussions on discipleship and organizational governance involved the following speakers and facilitators:

• Matthew Rohrs, Hope International director of spiritual integration 
• Todd Engelsen, PEER Servants president 
• Jesse Ratichek, Hope International technical assistance manager 
• Malu Garcia, Hope International savings circle program specialist 
• Larry Roadman, endPoverty.org chairman 
• Tammy Wang, endPoverty.org chief operating officer 
• James Tioco, Sowers of the Word Ministries executive director 
• Elizabeth Venegas, CCT Training and Development Institute executive director 
• Bertram Lim, CCT Inc. board chairman 
• Ronald Chua, CCT Credit Cooperative board chairman 
• Ruth Callanta, CCT Group of Ministries founder and president 
• Joey Bonifacio, Victory Fort Bonifacio pastor 
• Carson Tan, CCT Life and Business Mentoring Program volunteer mentor 

The discipleship course covered the Biblical basis for discipleship, encouraging examples of how CCT has integrated discipleship into its daily activities, and case studies of organizations that have excelled in discipling. The organizational governance course covered governance principles, practices and policies that guided CCT as it evolved from a single entity to a group of ministries, and issues and challenges that confronted CCT and its response to such.

The Ka-partner Network is a consortium of North American-based Christian microfinance organizations that partner with CCT – currently including endPoverty.org, Five Talents, Hope International and PEER Servants.

Other organizations represented in the conference were Christian Empowerment Microfinance (Zambia), Christian Service Society (India), Christian Action for Empowering Church and Community (Uganda), Action for Children (Uganda), Ikussasa Empowerment Trust (South Africa), and Women’s Initiative for Health, Education and Economic Development (Cameroon).

The conference was held on November 10-15, 2014 at the Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center, Cavite, Philippines.

Children cared for at the residential school for girls
in Puypuy, Bay, Laguna welcome TEE participants
with gifts of shell necklaces.

 TEE participants join a friendly football match with young men
 who used to live on the street and who are now cared for
 at the Visions of Hope Christian School in Magdalena, Laguna.  

While observing a once-a-week fellowship meeting of 
microfinance recipients, TEE attendees
 learn an action song led by a
covenant community builder, front-liner in
CCT's microfinance program.  

Brothers and sisters in the Lord -- development workers 
from around the world,
microfinance recipients, and CCT staff. 

Joey Bonifacio, CCT corporate member, discusses discipleship
and the Lego Principle.

Delegates from 12 countries learn a bit of Philippine
history with a visit to a monument honoring
patriot and martyr Jose Rizal.

Thurman Awardee Mardy Cabalo Receives Prizes

 Mardy Cabalo, micro entrepreneur from Quezon City,
 receives her trophy as 2013 Thurman awardee from Christian businessman Carson Tan, representing
CCT and Hope International .

Mardy Cabalo received her prizes as 2013 Thurman overall awardee during the joint corporate worship service of Center for Community Transformation branches in Luzon on June 8, 2013.  The prizes are a  trophy and $500.00.  Joining Mardy during the brief ceremony were her daughters Chloe May, Jodeline, Jesusa, and Hannah,  staff from the Araneta, Quezon City branch, and her business mentor Carson Tan.

The Thurman Award recognizes microfinance and savings partners who demonstrate the values of perseverance, compassion, strength of character, and creativity. It was established in honor of Eric Thurman, the first CEO of Hope International, and his wife, Pennie. Hope International is a ministry partner of CCT based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA.  Its network operates in 16 countries around the world.

Winners of the award for 2013 were announced in April 2013 following a nomination period that began late in 2012. Vicky Nevado, regional peer servant, representing CCT, accepted the award on behalf of Mardy during Hope International's annual dinner held in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on May 16.

This is the first time a CCT community partner has been chosen as the overall Thurman awardee.  Abegail Yape, a junk shop owner from Payatas was named honourable mention for Asia in 2008, and in 2010, Linda Rondina, owner of five panciterias in Rizal, was also named honourable mention for Asia.   

Ruth Callanta, CCT president (holding trophy), encourages micro finance staff to nominate community partners 
for  awards such as the Thurman Award, while Bertram Lim,  CCT chair (right), listens. 

Mike Salili, regional peer servant for the national capital region, hands Mardy her prize of $500 in cash.

(L to r)  Carson Tan, a volunteer with CCT's business mentoring program and Mardy's business mentor;
 Ruthie Monterde, area servant leader NCR 1; Mardy; Janice Ondrade, team servant for the Araneta,
Quezon City branch; Mike Salili; Gabriel Ortiola, covenant community builder. 

Photos: Michelle Taway

CCT's Mardy Cabalo is 2013 Thurman Awardee

Mardy Cabalo, a community partner of the Center for Community Transformation (CCT) Savings and Credit Cooperative  Araneta, Quezon City branch is the Hope International Thurman awardee for 2013. She is a dealer of beauty products.

The Thurman Award recognizes microfinance and savings partners who demonstrate the values of perseverance, compassion, strength of character, and creativity. It was established in honor of Eric Thurman, the first CEO of Hope, and his wife Pennie. Hope International  is a ministry partner of CCT based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA.

One of the judges said, “Mardy demonstrates an entrepreneurial spirit, is others-focused, and expresses a love for Christ through her work.”

Mardy’s story is one of triumph over difficult circumstances. 

She was just 12 when her mother, a handicrafts dealer, passed away. Her father, who had seldom been at home anyway, remarried within that same year, leaving Mardy, the middle of three children -- and yet the most mature emotionally -- to look after her siblings.

“Wala akong inaayawang trabaho.  Andiyan yung magbubuhat ako ng palay, ng mais para may maipakain sa mga kapatid ko.  Pagdating ko sa high school tumutulong ako sa mga teacher kapalit ng pagkain namin.” (“I wasn't choosy with jobs. I would carry sacks of rice or corn if I had to, to be able to feed my siblings.  I would help my high school teachers in exchange for food.”)

Her father’s desertion left Mardy with a deep hurt in her heart.  Then God sent Christian missionaries to the town where they lived and  she came to know the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit  began helping her deal with her feelings of resentment.  

Mardy was in her late teens when she was told that it would be easier for her to raise her siblings if she were to get a job in Manila. She moved to the city and worked at a series of low-paying jobs: as  helper at roadside eateries, as sales clerk for a bakery, and other simple jobs. She continued sending money home to help her younger sister.   

Soon she married a friend from high school. Even after four daughters came, their home was always open to relatives coming to Manila needing a place to stay while they looked for jobs and got established in the city.

Meanwhile Mardy’s daughters had begun school.  As is often the case with stay-at-home moms, Mardy brought the girls to school and would wait until it was time for them to go home.  To pass the time she sold beauty products to other waiting mothers. 

Also around this time she began attending CCT fellowship meetings in her neighbourhood.  After all her years in Manila, Mardy had not found a church family.  What drew her  mainly was a chance to attend Bible studies again, and not just an interest in joining the co-operative for additional business capital.  She decided to become a member of the co-operative  only when she learned that scholarships were offered exclusively to children of members. 

From there Mardy decided to keep her direct selling business going, expanding her network of dealers to about 40 women. It was a way of helping other mothers who, like her, lived on very slim budgets. She also became involved in CCT’s work, opening her home as a venue for meetings and Bible studies, and inviting other micro entrepreneurs to join the co-operative. Today she finds joy in serving God by leading a group of women actively involved in community work such as feeding sessions and medical missions.  

Whenever she recalls not having the love of a father when she was young, Mardy still gets teary-eyed, but God’s love has allowed her to forgive. After he was diagnosed with a heart problem a few years ago, she has faithfully paid for his maintenance medicines, clearly demonstrating the love and compassion of Jesus. 

Watch Mardy tell about her life in this short presentation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqAcSRnEIPU

Mardy and eldest daughter Chloe May.

Mardy with three younger daughters
Hannah, Jodeline, and Jesusa.

Mardy with her husband and a nephew whose parents
live with them. 

Mardy in a once-a-month mentoring meeting
with business mentor Carson Tan...

...and with Ruthie  Monterde (left), CCT area servant leader.

Photos:  Michelle Taway